The St. John’s Red Storm enter their November 8 matchup against Alabama with a clear mission—to slow down one of the fastest, most dynamic offenses in college basketball and turn the game into a physical, defensive grind inside Carnesecca Arena. Under Rick Pitino, St. John’s has built an identity around toughness, discipline, and execution, thriving in games where they can dictate tempo and frustrate high-scoring opponents. The Red Storm know that to beat Alabama, they must control the boards, take care of the basketball, and limit the Tide’s transition opportunities. Pitino’s defensive scheme emphasizes pressure on the perimeter, quick help rotations, and forcing contested jump shots rather than giving up rhythm looks or easy drives. St. John’s guards will be tasked with closing out on Alabama’s shooters while also maintaining composure in ball-handling against Alabama’s full-court and half-court pressure. Offensively, the Red Storm will look to use their experienced backcourt and physical frontcourt to slow the game, utilizing methodical sets to find high-percentage looks near the rim or through inside-out ball movement. Expect them to run deliberate half-court actions with strong screens and crisp passes to exploit Alabama’s aggressive switching defense. The Red Storm’s forwards and centers play a key role in this matchup, not only by battling on the glass but also by setting a tone of physicality that can disrupt Alabama’s rhythm.

A significant advantage for St. John’s comes from their home-court edge—Carnesecca Arena’s atmosphere tends to amplify their defensive intensity and confidence in close games. The energy from the crowd can be vital in fueling momentum swings, especially when facing a team that thrives on scoring runs like Alabama. To cover or win outright, St. John’s must focus on limiting turnovers, protecting the paint, and drawing fouls on Alabama’s big men to slow down the Tide’s tempo. Transition defense will be critical, as Alabama punishes teams that fail to get back quickly. If the Red Storm can force the Tide into prolonged half-court sets and control the glass on both ends, they’ll effectively neutralize much of Alabama’s offensive advantage. In these conditions, St. John’s thrives—tough, structured, and opportunistic when opponents lose patience. The Red Storm’s best chance lies in turning this into a possession battle, not a track meet, while leveraging their balance and experience to wear Alabama down late. Pitino’s team has proven it can win games by outworking, not outscoring, its opponents, and this game will test that formula against one of the nation’s premier fast-paced juggernauts. If St. John’s maintains discipline and keeps Alabama uncomfortable, this could become a statement victory that highlights the Red Storm’s growth under Pitino and reinforces their standing as a dangerous, well-coached team capable of beating anyone in the country when the game is played on their terms.